"Who else would be scrying our compound the same week they sent a physical assault team?" I shake my head. "He's preparing for something larger. The attack is to test ourresponse time, now magical reconnaissance. He's being thorough."
"Which means we have time."
"Or it means he's already confident enough in his intelligence that he's moving to the final planning stages." I start walking back toward the main building. "Either way, we need to accelerate our preparations."
Marcellus falls into step beside me. "About the girl…"
"Her name is Celeste."
"AboutCeleste," he corrects, his tone suggesting he's humoring me. "I don't trust her."
"You've made that abundantly clear."
"And yet you've given her access to everything. Training, donor coordination, security protocols. In less than 48 hours, she's learned more about our operation than vampires who've worked for us for years."
"She's intelligent. She learns quickly. That's an asset, not a liability."
We enter through the east wing entrance, and I immediately check the security panel. All systems are functioning normally. No breaches, no anomalies.
"She could be feeding information to Konstantin," Marcellus says quietly. "The timing of the attacks…"
"I've considered that." I have. Extensively. The logical part of my mind that's kept me alive for six centuries has analyzed every possibility. "But her reaction during the attack was genuine. You can't fake combat instincts like that. She fought to protect this compound, not sabotage it."
"Unless that's what she wants you to think."
I stop walking and turn to face him. "What do you want me to do, Marcellus? Throw her out based on suspicion? Kill her to eliminate a potential threat? Or do you want me to do what I've donefor six hundred years, observe, analyze, and act when I have actual evidence?"
He's quiet for a moment. "I want you to be careful. You're… different with her."
"Different how?"
"You smile when she insults you. You spend extra time training her personally instead of delegating to me. You watch her when you think no one's looking." His expression is concerned rather than accusatory. "In two centuries, I've never seen you care about anyone. Now suddenly you're invested in a fledgling you barely know."
"I'm not invested. I'm utilizing a useful resource."
"You're lying to yourself."
The words hit harder than they should. Because he's right. I am lying to myself.
I've spent the last two days trying to rationalize my interest in Celeste. Telling myself it's strategic. That she's useful. That her skills make her valuable to my operation.
But the truth is simpler and more dangerous: I'm fascinated by her.
The way she moves. The way she thinks. The defiance that should irritate me but instead makes me want to push her further, see how far that spirit extends. The way she looked at me in that alley, not with fear or worship, but with the kind of honest assessment you'd give an equal.
No one has looked at me like an equal in centuries.
"I'll be careful," I tell Marcellus. It's the best I can offer.
He doesn't look convinced, but he nods. "The prisoners from last night's attack are secured in the detention wing. Ready for interrogation when you are."
"Good. I'll handle that personally."
Marcellus leaves to continue his security sweep, and I make myway to my study. It's nearly 3 a.m., that dead zone between night activity and dawn when the compound is quietest.
I begin to review intelligence reports. Planning countermeasures against Konstantin. Analyzing the scrying attempt for additional information.
Konstantin's activities over the last month show a pattern. Increased recruitment. More vampires entering Atlanta from other territories. Shipments of weapons, both conventional and those designed specifically for vampire combat. He's building toward something.
